Sherdog Pick’Em Trends: UFC 152

Following the cancellation of UFC 151, Jon Jones’
approval rating reached a new low.

Popularity has nothing to do with cold logic, however, as the
majority of players in Sherdog.com’s MMA Pick ‘Em Fantasy game can
attest. Whether they like him or not, 84 percent have selected
Jones to successfully defend his 205-pound title against Vitor
Belfort in the UFC
152 main event on Saturday night.

A former UFC light heavyweight titlist, Belfort has competed
primarily at middleweight since returning to the promotion in 2009.
“The Phenom” has earned a pair of first-round finishes in his last
two outings, knocking out Yoshihiro
Akiyama at UFC 133 and submitting Anthony
Johnson at UFC 142.

In the second title tilt of the evening, 79 percent of participants
are siding with Joseph
Benavidez in his bid to become the UFC’s inaugural flyweight
champion against Demetrious
Johnson. Benavidez punched his ticket to the 125-pound
flyweight final at UFC on FX 2 with a second-round knockout of
Yasuhiro
Urushitani.

A solid 65 percent of players favor Michael
Bisping against Brian Stann
in a pivotal middleweight duel. Despite having a four-fight winning
streak halted by Chael Sonnen
in his last bout, the outspoken Brit gained respect for giving
Sonnen a tougher-than-expected test. Stann, meanwhile, has won four
of five since dropping to middleweight, most recently knocking out
Alessio
Sakara in the first round at UFC on Fuel TV 2 in April.

Despite not having fought for more than a year, 91 percent of users
are siding with Matt Hamill
in his light heavyweight clash with UFC newcomer Roger
Hollett. Hamill announced his retirement following a TKO defeat
to Alexander
Gustafsson at UFC 133 but has since reconsidered. Hollett, a
staple of the Maximum Fighting Championship promotion, carries a
five-fight winning streak into his Octagon debut.